Combined accelerator and starter operating mechanism



Feb. 20, 1934. v G, FRAZER 1,947,766

CQMBINED ACCELERATOR AND STARTER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1930 [raven P02 Peed aFr zzez Q1; Mp2 A296 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 PATENT orrics COMBINED ACCELERATOR AND STARTER OPERATING MECHANISM 7 Pearl G. Frazier, Polk City, Iowa Application May 26, 1930. Serial No. 455,682

' 1 Claim. (01. 123-179) This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for operating the throttle valve of a carburetor and for operating the starter switch. The object of my invention is to provide mechanism of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, which may be easily and quickly applied to the body of an automobile as it is commercially built, and when so applied provides knee operated means for controlling the carburetor throttle valve, and in connection therewith hand operated means for closing the starter switch.

A further object is to provide in a knee operated mechanism for controlling and operating the throttle valve of a carburetor and employing a tiltable lever mounted in such position as to be conveniently engaged by the operators leg, improved means whereby that portion of the mechanism engaged by the leg may be moved to a 26' position where it will not interfere with the operator entering or leaving the automobile.

A further object is to provide in connection with leg operated mechanism for operating and controlling the throttle valve of a carburetor improved means for mounting that portion of the mechanism engaged by the operators leg on the door of the automobile body in such a manner that as the door is swung to an open position, the

} said leg engaging mechanism will be moved to such position where it will not interfere with the entering or leaving the automobile; and in connection therewith means whereby the said leg operating device will be automatically connected to the link mechanism for operating said throt- 85' tle valve.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a segmental sectional view of an automobile body showing one form of accelerator mechanism and the manner in which my improved mechanism for closing the starter switch is applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a slightly modified form of a starter switch which may also be used in connection with my improved mechanism.

In the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally an automobile body. The numeral 11 indicates the M cowl board, 12 the dash, and 14 the foot board.

The sides of the automobile body are designated by the numeral 15, each of which is provided with the usual door 16. Supported by the cowl board 11 is the steering column 19, the lower end of which projects downwardly through the foot board 14.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the preferred form of my invention, wherein the lower end of the throttle operating rod 20 is illustrated, together with the laterally projecting crank arm 21, to which is connected a link 22 having one end pivotally connected with the throttle arm 23, supported on a suitable shaft 24 to which the throttle valve 25 of a carburetor 26 is connected.

In my improved, device the link 22 is provided with a screw threaded portion 27 on which a screw threaded collar 28 is mounted. One side of the column 28 is provided with a lug 29 to which one end of a link 30 is pivotally connected. The opposite end of the link 30 is pivotally connected to the wrist pin 31 of a crank arm 32, mounted on the lower end of a rota-. tively and slidably mounted shaft 33. The lower end of the shaft 33 is mounted in a bearing 34 supported in the foot board 14, and at a point a considerable distance from the left hand side of the steering column 19. The upper end of the shaft 33 is rotatively and slidably mounted in a bracket 35, which is secured to the lower edge of the cowl board 11 and also to the side 15.

The upper end of the shaft 33 is provided with a head portion 36 in which is pivotally mounted a leg engaging lever 37 adapted to have its free end swing from substantially vertical position, as illustrated in Figure 1, to a position substantially perpendicular to the shaft 33, whereby the said lever 37 will be supported in spaced relation with the door 16, and at such a point as to be easily engaged by the operators leg, whereby outer movement of the knee will cause the shaft 33 to be rocked.

A torsional spring 38 is provided on the lower end of the shaft 33 for normally retaining the lever 37 at its inner limit of movement, and the throttle valve normally in a closed position. The lever 37 is frictionally supported in its various positions of pivotal movement in any desired manner.

slidably mounted in the foot board 14 is a rod 39 for closing the switch contacts 40 and 41 included in the starter circuit. A collar 42 is provided on said pin designed to be engaged by one end of a lever 43 fulcrumed to a bracket 44 clamped to the lower end of the steering column 19 by means of a U-bolt 45. The opposite end of the lever 43 is designed to engage the collar 46 supported on the lower end of the shaft 33, in such manner that as the shaft 33 is slid upwardly, the coacting end of the lever 43 will be moved upwardly, while the opposite end of said lever will be moved downwardly, causing the starter rod 39 to be operated to close the contact points 40 and 41 of the starter circuit, in which is included the conductor wires 47. A spring 48 is provided for yieldably holding the pin 37 at its upper limit of movement, and the rod 33 at its lower limit of movement.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of switch in which is employed an insulating block 49 having a contact member 50, said block being fixed to the floor board 14. A second insulating block 51 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 33, having contacts 52 to which the conductors 47 are connected.

By this arrangement it will be seen that upward movement of the shaft 33 will cause the contacts 52 to engage the member 50 and the starter circuit to be closed. Thus means is provided whereby the shaft 33 performs the double function of operating the throttle valve through the links 30 and 27 by side pressure of the operators leg, and in connection therewith means for closing the starter switch by simply grasping the head 36 and moving it upwardly, causing the shaft 33 to be moved upwardly.

By pivoting the lever 37 I have provided means whereby the said lever may be folded to position substantially under the cowl board 11, to permit the operator to easily enter and leave the automobile.

I claim as my invention:

In a device of the class described, the combination of a steering wheel support, a starter rod near one side of said support, a rock shaft rotatively and slidingly mounted near the opposite side of said steering wheel support having a crank arm on its lower end, a leg engaging lever on its upper end for rocking said shaft, a bracket bar, means for fastening said bracket bar to said support, a lever, means for pivoting said lever to said bracket at a point intermediate the ends of said lever with one end of said lever adjacent to said starter rod and the opposite end adjacent to said crank. arm, means for operatively connecting one end of said lever to said starter rod, a spring for imparting longitudinal and torsional movement to said rock shaft, and means for connecting said crank arm to a throttle operating lever.

PEARL G. FRAZIER. 

